Chap. XXVI. 
SCARCITY OF WATER. 
187 
cool shed. However, we found great difficulty in 
watering our animals, the Manga pretending that 
there was no water, though we ourselves had passed 
the well where the cattle had just been watered. 
Certainly the aquatic element was very scarce ; and, 
after much debate, I was at length obliged to pay one 
hundred and fifty shells — an enormous charge, if 
the general price of the necessaries of life in this 
country be considered. 
Thus our poor camels got at length something to 
drink, and, with a good feed in the afternoon, were 
prepared for a long march the following day. How- 
ever, we still wanted a guide; and, notwithstand- 
ing our begging, promising, and threatening, we were 
unable to persuade any one to accompany us on to 
Biindi. The reason of this, however, was not only 
on account of the absence of the governor of Mashena 
from his capital, but likewise owing to the unsettled 
state of the country, and the fear entertained by these 
people of being caught and sold into slavery. Indeed, 
between all these towns, there was scarcely any mu- 
tual intercourse kept up by the natives themselves. 
Having exerted myself to the utmost to Thursd . iy 
obtain a guide, I found myself obliged to March 20th - 
start alone with my two young lads, the eldest of whom 
was eighteen, and the other not more than thirteen 
or fourteen years of age. Field and forest succeeded 
alternately to each other ; and after a little less than 
two miles, we passed on our left a small village lightly 
